Door and hinge construction



Feb. 22, 1944.

P. w. VANDENBERG ETAL DOOR AND HINGE CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet l yen/j Filed March 9, 1942 I few 6 mm gg Jfira flema,

1944. P. w. VANDENBERG ETAL 2,342,619

DOOR AND HINGE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 9, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Wr: flaw M51296 JEnZaicem Patented Feb. 22, 1944 DOOR AND HINGE CONSTRUCTION Paul W. Vandenberg, Elmhurst, and John Kaccna, Chicago, 111., vassignors to Crane 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 9, 1942, Serial No. 433,922

Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved closure means. More particularly, it pertains to a novel door and hinge construction having for one of its principal objects the provision of a vertically hung door having easy removability with relatively simple self-seating and positionretaining advantages.

An object of this invention is to provide a draft door construction or the like wherein the door may be hung in a vertical position and retain its self-seating ability on seating surfaces of the supporting member under the mere influence of gravity.

Another important object of this invention lies in the provision of a vertically suspended door pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis with an offset provided in the door in the plane of the horizontal axis to thereby effect a rotative moment around the axis and thus cause a seating of the door by its own weight.

A further important object of this invention is to provide a vertically pivotable closure member suspended about a horizontal shaft wherein the shaft is held securely within a closed socket at one end and effectively guided within an open socket at its opposite end portion.

Another important object is to provide in combination a novel hinge support arrangement whereby even if the door is accidentally dislodged at one end, the closed socket portion will serve to prevent actual dislodgement of the door from its mounting.

Other and further important objects will become apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification. The invention in a preferred form is shown in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the front portion of a panel to which the door and hinge construc tion of this invention may be applied.

Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view of the panel shown in Fig. l with the door and hinge removed.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear view perspective of the novel door of this invention.

Fig. 4 is a partial rear view perspective of the panel and door of this invention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view of one of the door shaft sockets.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed view of the other door shaft socket.

Fig. 7 is an exterior view of the novel door of our invention.

Fig. 8 is an interior view of the door.

Fig, 9 is an end view as seen from the right end of Fig. 8.

As shown in the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates generally a panel or the like onto which the door 2 is pivotally hinged horizontally. As indicated, the door 2 consists of a lower portion 3 and an upper portion 4, each of the latter being in stepped arrangement or offset from the other at 6 as shown in Fig. 3. The length of the upper portion 4 is relatively short in comparison to the lower portion 3 of the door 2 for reasons hereinafter mentioned. The rear surface of the door 2 is equipped with lugs l and 3 having horizontally aligned apertures 9 and H through which the shaft or rod 12 passes. The shaft if. is positioned in a plane lying in the upper portion of the door 4.

As best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the inner surface portion of the panel I is provided with the ledges l3 and Id upon which the shaft 12 is journally supported. Surmounting the ledge I3 is a closed top socket 16 into which the shaft 52 projects. Cooperating with the ledge 14 is the open top socket ll into which the opposite end portion of the shaft 12 is positioned. In addition, the panel I is provided with a raised door frame around the upper portion 4 of the door 2, as indicated at 13, the frame 18 being set out above the surface of the panel as shown at 19. I

The upper corner portion 4 of the door 2 is preferably cut away or relieved respectively as shown at it and 2|, in order that the body portions 22 and 23 of the sockets l6 and 11 may pass thereover upon pivotal movement of the door 2 upon its axis shaft l2.

The seating surfaces of the door 2 contacting against the panel I are preferably provided with raised ridges 24 and 26 respectively, in order to obtain a more perfect seal when the door is closed.

In actual operation, the vertically suspended door 2 pivots about the axis 12 in a horizontal plane in the same manner as the upper portion 4 of the door 2. The offset portion 6 of the door 2 in addition to having the axis of rotation in a plane with the short portion of the door, causes the door to normally swing to a closed position since the greater weight of the lower longer portion 3 of the door 2 maintains a moment arm about the offset axis which tends to move the door to a closed vertical position.

It is preferable that the axis shaft 12 should be removable because in its assembly with the door it is moved into the enclosed socket l6 and is then dropped into the open socket 11. Upon completion of such latter assembly, the door can then be operated by the handle 21 without the danger that the door will be displaced from its hinges with rough or careless operation. It has been clearly shown by repeated test that because one of the sockets is closed even if an end portion of the shaft l2 should become disengaged With the open socket H, the shaft I2 will normally drop into the open top socket I! when the door resumes its vertical and closed position.

It should be apparent that the numerous details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles disclosed herein, and we therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

We claim:

1. A door and hinge combination of the character described comprising a substantially vertically suspended door, a supporting panel therefor, the said door being divided transversely by an offset portion with an upper rearwardly set portion and a lower forwardly set portion, horizontally aligned apertured lugs on the said door, the said lug apertures being positioned in the plane of the upper rearwardly set portion of the door, a closed peripheral socket on the said panel, a socket with an open top portion and oppositely disposed from the said closed socket, a shaft fitted through the apertures in the lugs n the said door to engage the sockets in the said panel, whereby the upper rearwardly offset portion of the said door allows for the latter member to be removed from the said panel upon canting of the door upwardly to lift an end portion of the shaft upwardly from the open top socket, and

sliding the shaft longitudinally away from the closed socket to pass the door through the aperture of the panel.

2. A vertically hung door for an apertured base, the said door having an offset upper rearwardly set portion and an offset lower forwardly set portion, a longitudinally movable horizontal shaft therefor, a plurality of fixed sockets positioned on the base for the reception of the said shaft, one of the said sockets being closed around its periphery and the other of said sockets being opened at its top portion for the insertion of an end portion of the said shaft, one portion of the said door contacting as a closure on an inner surface of the base, the other portion of the said door contacting as a closure on an outer surface portion of the base whereby the said door is removably journaled Within the said fixed sockets, the said shaft being mounted between the respective contacting portions of the said door.

3. A vertically hung door, the combination comprising a panel having respective inner horizontally aligned open and closed fixed sockets, a rotatable shaft journaled in said door, the said shaft being longitudinally movable to engage the said sockets to hingedly support the said door and of a length substantially equal to the length of the said door, whereby upon assembly within the said sockets one end portion of the said rod is moved into the closed socket while the opposite end portion is subsequently dropped into the open socket, the said door having offset portions permitting contact to be normally made with opposite sides of the said panel.

4. A door and binge construction comprising a vertically hung door, a. longitudinally movable shaft therefor, the said door having a shouldered portion extending transversely thereof to provide the door with upper and lower offset portions, 2. panel supporting the said door having horizontally aligned sockets, one of the said sockets having an upper portion opened to permit entry of an end portion of the said movable shaft, the offset portions of the said door providing for the removability of the said door upon initially lifting an end portion of the door upwardly to permit displacement of an end portion of the said shaft from the open socket and permitting the upper and lower edges thereof to contact opposite edge surface portions of the said panel in substantially the same vertical plane.

5. A door and hinge construction comprising a substantially vertically depending door, an apertured supporting panel therefor, the said door having a transversely extendingoffset forming an upper rearwardly set portion and a lower forwardly set portion, horizontally aligned apertured lugs on the said door positioned in the plane of the upper rearwardly set portion of the door, a closed peripheral socket on the said panel, an open top socket horizontally disposed from the said closed socket, a slidable shaft fitted through apertures in the said lugs and positioned in the said sockets whereby the said door is removable through the said apertured panel upon lifting the shaft portion bearing in the said open top socket therefrom and moving the door transversely so as to withdraw the shaft end supported in the closed socket longitudinally therefrom, the said door normally assuming a substantially vertical position about the said shaft, the latter member being offset in a plane rearward of the lower portion of the said door.

PAUL W. VANDENBERG. JOHN KACENA. 

